Alborz Ski Region Iran has many ski resorts in different mountains of Alborz and Zagros. The most important Ski Resorts were built before the Islamic Revolution, during Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's ruling, and they are still among the best in the country. As you know Alborz mountain starts from north west of Iran near the Turkey border and stretches all the way in the south of the Caspian Sea towards north east of Iran near the Afghanistan border. Alborz district is divided into three sections, West Alborz, Central Alborz and East Alborz Mountains. Central Alborz region has a lot of high altitude peaks above 4000 m and Mount Damavand, the Iran highest peak with 5610 m is located in this part as well. In central Alborz, there is a specific region called Alborz Ski Region that starts from Mount Tochal (3960m) which is Tehran's highest mountain and stretches northward to Kolonbastak-Sarakchal ridge with a width of about 20 km. This region only has 4 different ski areas and you can see them in the map. Also there are some famous mountains which are out of the ski area and are the perfect place for off-piste skiing or Ski Touring. Tochal Ski Resort Tehran sits at the foot of Tochal mountain that has a ski resort on its heights. The peak altitude is 3960m and the highest point of the ski resort is 3850m. From Velenjak neighborhood in the north of capital Tehran you will have access to the gondola which will take you up to 3700 m after three sections. From there you can take a lift to go to the highest point of the ski resort which is near the Touchal peak (3960m). The length of the gondola from the first to the last station is about 7.5 km
Alborz Ski Region Iran has many ski resorts in different mountains of Alborz and Zagros. The most important Ski Resorts were built before the Islamic Revolution, during Mohammad Reza Pahlavi’s ruling, and they are still among the best in the country. As you know Alborz mountain starts from north west of Iran near the Turkey
Darbandsar Ski Resort ALBORZ SKI REGION Darbandsar ski resort is one of Iran’s main ski resorts located in Darbandsar village, north-east of the capital. From Tehran it’s only 65km away and takes one and half hours to reach it. The history of the piste goes back to around the time of the Iran Islamic revolution. Before the revolution, many local skiers travelled to Europe for the ski championships. With the help and support of a few ski enthusiasts from various countries, decisions were made to create a new ski resort in the Alborz Ski Region. They bought a brand-new lift from the Poma company in France in 1978. This lift was kept in Iran’s customs control for a period due to the timing of the revolution. This project was suspended until things had settled down resulting in it taking longer than originally planned. After a few years, actually at the beginning of 1982, the Darbandsar piste was born. Subsequently, the locals bought more ski lift equipment to improve the piste making it more advanced and to keep pace with other pistes in Iran. The altitude is 2600m to 3600m. This piste, as mentioned, is located in the Alborz ski region in the Central Alborz Mountains. Some years ago. Darbandsar ski resort was originally a small piste. Fortunately, it now belongs to a private company who developed the region and purchased new ski lift equipment. It is fast increasing in size, overtaking Shemshak and Touchal pistes. Nowadays Darbandsar is an important and well-known ski hub for Iranian skiers. It’s also becoming more popular with locals. Lift Systems: 1st station: 2600m Last station: 3600m The ski resort has two ski lifts, three chair lifts (two 4-seater ski lifts, one two-seater chair lift) and one Gondola. The piste has two Green and
Darbandsar Ski Resort ALBORZ SKI REGION Darbandsar ski resort is one of Iran’s main ski resorts located in Darbandsar village, north-east of the capital. From Tehran it’s only 65km away and takes one and half hours to reach it. The history of the piste goes back to around the time of the Iran Islamic
Shemshak history ALBORZ SKI REGION Shemshak is the name of a village in Rudbar-e Qasran District, in Shemiranat County, Tehran Province, Iran. It is a mountain village located in the southern part of the central Alborz Mountains in northeastern Tehran province. Shemshak is one of the highest villages in Iran, situated at an altitude of 2500 to 2650 and is surrounded by many mountains above 4000 m. Around a few hundred years ago, many people who bred stocks in the Plateau of Iran in the southern part of Tehran province came to this region with their sheep and goats during the summer as this region has rich pastures, perfect for them for their seasonal migration. They slowly migrated to this region about 100 years ago where they followed their traditional life rearing livestock. However. at the beginning of the 20th century, they noticed the soil on some mountains in the area was black. The locals realized this was coal. This discovery brought the Germans to the region to extract it, where they created many coal mines approximately a 100 years ago. At that time about 3000 people were employed in the mining industry where the area developed rapidly. This brought change for the locals working and living there with their families. Simultaneously, they had an electrical factory, (power station), in the area designed by German engineers. Besides that, they built accommodation for their employees, a hospital and a cinema. Change came when other fuels became available which replaced coal causing the mine to close. This had quite an impact on the people. At that time a number of them who used to ski in Abali piste, (the first Iran ski area), with a few foreigners who worked in the mine, brought their skis to this region and skied in
Shemshak history ALBORZ SKI REGION Shemshak is the name of a village in Rudbar-e Qasran District, in Shemiranat County, Tehran Province, Iran. It is a mountain village located in the southern part of the central Alborz Mountains in northeastern Tehran province. Shemshak is one of the highest villages in Iran, situated at an altitude
Dizin Ski Resort ALBORZ SKI REGION Dizin is the biggest Ski Resort in Iran, located in Alborz province, north-east of Tehran province, which is on the southern slopes of the Central Alborz Mountains. Dizin ski resort was built around 1960 during the reign of Pahlavi, (Mohammad Reza Shah), before Iran’s Islamic revolution. The piste is situated in an especially, staggeringly beautiful geographical position surrounded by a lot of high mountain peaks around +4000 m which makes for a very cold winter with amazing visibility of the many mountains in the Alborz range. You will have a stunning view of Iran’s highest mountain, Damavand (5610m), from top of the piste on Sichal peak. From the last station of Dizin you have to ascend a little bit, it takes 10-15 minutes to reach the peak (Sichal), the highest point of the region. From there you will have a breathtaking 360-degree panoramic view of the numerous mountains in the heart of Alborz. From the peak you are able to see Kolonbastak (4150m), the ridgeline of the Sarakckal mountains, a 15km mountain chain above 4000m with 3 peaks. In the south you will see Touchal mountain (3960m) which is north of the capital, Tehran. Dizin is, without doubt, the finest place for skiing in Iran. For those of you who are looking for a more challenging activity there are a lot of regions around Dizin which are terrific for Off Piste skiing. You will need a local guide or experienced ski instructor for off piste skiing in Dizin. There are a few mountains around Dizin which are excellent for Ski-Touring at the end of winter and the beginning of spring. Mount Kolonbastak and Mount Azadkuh are two of them, which are fairly close, and ideal for ski touring. Besides ski activities, the attractive
Dizin Ski Resort ALBORZ SKI REGION Dizin is the biggest Ski Resort in Iran, located in Alborz province, north-east of Tehran province, which is on the southern slopes of the Central Alborz Mountains. Dizin ski resort was built around 1960 during the reign of Pahlavi, (Mohammad Reza Shah), before Iran’s Islamic revolution. The piste
Iran's most famous mountains and high peaks Iran has a long list of mountains above +4000m in different regions in the Alborz, Zagros range. Surprisingly, even in the deserts of Iran, there are many mountains above 3000 m plus a few famous mountains above +4000m. Also, along these two long mountain ranges there are numerous special regions such as Dasht-e Lut or Sistan and Baluchistan province which have some mountains which are not well known to travellers. They have an ideal climate, perfect for a winter ascend. It’s impossible to list all of Iran’s mountains here. We have chosen only a few of them for adventurous travellers who would like to specifically experience Iran’s mountains. We considered many factors to create the list below from more than 100 mountain names which local climbers generally choose for their various activities. We appraised the combination of the mountains’ altitude, the levels of difficulty, accessibility, special regions, protected areas, exquisite landscapes, Off the Beaten Track, to cover a multitude of activities bearing in mind the best season for each activity to cover the whole year. Also, our 20 years’ experience of performing a lot of tours in different regions of Iran was another important aspect as to why we have chosen these specific mountains in our Iran’s Most Famous Mountains and High Peaks List. According to your travel time in Iran and your level of fitness, we have special offers for you. Also included are popular activities like Trekking, Mountain Biking and Ski-touring. The list has been prepared by Adventure Iran’s mountain guides’ team. It reflects our point of view of what we think is just right for you. Certainly, there are a lot of other mountains which are not listed in our famous mountains of Iran. If you are looking for any
Iran’s most famous mountains and high peaks Iran has a long list of mountains above +4000m in different regions in the Alborz, Zagros range. Surprisingly, even in the deserts of Iran, there are many mountains above 3000 m plus a few famous mountains above +4000m. Also, along these two long mountain ranges there are numerous
Darbandsar Village ALBORZ SKI REGION Darbandsar is a village in the heart of the Alborz Mountains of Iran, 60 km away from the capital and north east of Tehran province. The village is situated in the slope of the southern part of the Central Alborz mountains with various altitudes. The average height is approximately 2600m above sea level. Darbandsar is also the name of the ski resort which was created after Iran’s revolution. Darbandsar village became famous in Iran as the piste is owned by a private company. The company built the length of the ski slope as well as buying a new lift system for the ski resort, which, by the way, is more up-to-date compared to other ski resorts in Iran. Winter time is the busiest time of the year, with Tehranians coming to ski. It’s generally even busier at the weekends, (which is Thursday and Friday in Iran). Due to this influx of visitors, the main road, (Fasham-Shemshak), is usually packed full of cars at this time. Apart from the ski activity in winter, the region is a perfect destination for other activities like trekking and mountain biking during other seasons. A lot of high mountains above 3000 m surround this village with plenty of canyons and spring water, flora and wildlife. Darbandsar is located in the Alborz Markazi protected area which makes this region one of best places to visit for those who live in the capital and would like to spend their weekend in northern Tehran in the central Alborz Mountains. The highest point of Darbandsar is 2650m, a mountain above the ski resort which locals call Mahmoud chal peak. There are also a few very high mountains around Darbandsar such as MT Kolonbastak 4150m, Sarakchal 1 (4120m), Sarakchal 2 (4150m), Sarakchal 3(4210m), Abak 3500m,
Darbandsar Village ALBORZ SKI REGION Darbandsar is a village in the heart of the Alborz Mountains of Iran, 60 km away from the capital and north east of Tehran province. The village is situated in the slope of the southern part of the Central Alborz mountains with various altitudes. The average height is approximately 2600m
Iran was known as Persia during the Silk Road period. It was the main ring of the chain from East to West. It was strategically placed for the Silk Road trade with several routes passing through Iran’s ancient and beautiful country. Nowadays, Iran is no longer considered so famous for the Silk Road route compared to other central Asian countries. The Iranian tourism industry didn’t invest much time in marketing this interesting piece of history due to Iran being at the center of several difficult issues during the last 40 years. In spite of this unfortunate drawback, Iran is firmly back on the map. Thanks to its attractiveness, and numerous ‘little-explored’ parts of this amazingly diverse country, there is so much to offer experienced travellers wishing to journey through Iran’s part of the Silk Road route which runs from China to Turkey. One of the main highlights of Iran Silk Road is to see the many historical sites alongside this route. In Iran’s Silk Road, there are plenty of ancient castles, caravanserais, citadels and mosques that date back to over a thousand years. There are a huge number of caravanserais, a lot of which have been renovated as boutique hotels. In addition, there are numerous oases in use in the Deserts of Iran in the original path of the Silk Road. These areas are still inhabited. The names of a couple of them are mentioned in the books of Alfons Gabriel and Sven Hedin who crossed the Iran desert about 100 years ago. In the Iran Deserts’ article, we also recommended adventurous individuals should visit Iran’s deserts to enjoy the countless attractions on offer.
Iran was known as Persia during the Silk Road period. It was the main ring of the chain from East to West. It was strategically placed for the Silk Road trade with several routes passing through Iran’s ancient and beautiful country. Nowadays, Iran is no longer considered so famous for the Silk Road route compared
Numerous mountains surround the area North of Tehran City with heights over 3,000 to 4,000 meters making perfect centers for selected adventure activities such as mountain biking. There are protected areas and national parks situated in the central part of Alborz Mountain range. Varjin, Alborz-e Markazi protected areas and Lar National Park are located northeast of Tehran and are just perfect for mountain biking. So far, the majority of Iran’s visitors haven’t received sufficient information about these regions. They travel to Iran believing they must go far afield for mountain biking, while near Tehran, in the heart of central Alborz, there are many areas for all types of mountain biking. There are various options for both moderate riders and advanced downhill bikers. There are also a number of districts for cycling in the northeast of Tehran. The biking terrains also vary depending on the region. They are a combination of asphalt, dirt, single-track, and age-old mule routes. In spring, the villages in Central Alborz are particularly picturesque, not only are they surrounded by different species of plants and flowers, but it’s also interesting to observe the water level rising in the rivers from the melting snow. Cycling in Lavasanat countryside - Northern Tehran is one of the moderate mountain biking tours we offer in the spring as well as the Single-Track MTB in northern Tehran in the Alborz Mountains. During the summer, when most of the regions have hot temperatures, we can recommend a few trails in high altitudes to avail of the best weather for mountain biking. As mentioned, there are some mountains above 3,000 m in northern Tehran, which are ideal for this sport. Mountain Biking alongside Shemshak ski resort, a moderate short mountain biking tour in the high altitude of central Alborz, is suitable for such bikers.
Numerous mountains surround the area North of Tehran City with heights over 3,000 to 4,000 meters making perfect centers for selected adventure activities such as mountain biking. There are protected areas and national parks situated in the central part of Alborz Mountain range. Varjin, Alborz-e Markazi protected areas and Lar National Park are located northeast
Due to its altitude of 5,610m, one needs to acclimatize before ascending Damavand. One’s experience and fitness are alas not enough and at Adventure Iran we have designed a special acclimatization programme to allow for an enjoyable ascent. Thus, in order to avoid any difficulties or headache due to altitude sickness, we recommend that before hiking directly up to the altitude of 4,000m and then ascending the peak (5,610m): 1. on the first day you sleep at the altitude of around 2,000-3,000m; and 2. on the second day ascend to the altitude of approx. 3,000-4,000m and then descend and again sleep at the altitude of 2,000-3,000m to physically and mentally prepare yourself.
Due to its altitude of 5,610m, one needs to acclimatize before ascending Damavand. One’s experience and fitness are alas not enough and at Adventure Iran we have designed a special acclimatization programme to allow for an enjoyable ascent. Thus, in order to avoid any difficulties or headache due to altitude sickness, we recommend that before
Desert Safari in Iran is one of the main activities that most travellers would like to experience on their journey to Iran. As you may know, Iran has two deserts; Dasht-e Kavir and Lut deserts. They are both perfect for a 4x4 safari for all adventurous travellers in search of a new and remarkable experience. Dasht-e Lut lands are quite unusual in comparison with the other deserts of Iran, having eye-catching and unique landscapes. Maranjab, Rig-e Jen, Koreh Gaaz and Mesr desert make up the Dasht-e Kavir desert all of which are ideal for off-road 4x4 safaris.Maranjab desert is close to Kashan city, where there is a historical caravanserai which is well worth visiting. This desert is unrivalled for a multi-day desert trip for those who would like to have a short and cost-effective desert journey in Iran. Rig-e Jen, in the central desert of Iran, is one of the most adventurous. It is located in the heart of the Dasht-e Kavir desert. Rig-e Jen is perfect for those travellers who would like to have a longer and more complete 4x4 safari as it is not easily accessible. It is also more challenging compared to the other deserts in the area. There are two ways for starting the journey. Anarak is the most accessible town in the Rig-e Jen desert being 222 km from the east of Esfahan. The second way is from Khur which is a town in the heart of Dasht-e Kavir. The least popular deserts for safaris in Iran are the Koreh Gaz and Mesr deserts. Koreh Gaz is also known as Mohammad Abad Kreh Gaz; it is the last oasis in the desert where a couple of people still live. In this region, there is underground water, a few animals, some agricultural land, and plenty of
Desert Safari in Iran is one of the main activities that most travellers would like to experience on their journey to Iran. As you may know, Iran has two deserts; Dasht-e Kavir and Lut deserts. They are both perfect for a 4×4 safari for all adventurous travellers in search of a new and remarkable experience.
